Whereas, corporate lobbying exposes our company to risks that could affect the company’s stated goals, objectives, and ultimately shareholder value, and

Whereas, we rely on the information provided by our company to evaluate goals and objectives, and we, therefore, have a strong interest in full disclosure of our company’s lobbying to assess whether our company’s lobbying is consistent with its expressed goals and in the best interests of shareholders and long-term value.

Resolved, the shareholders of Verizon Communications Inc. (“Verizon”) request the Board authorize the preparation of a report, updated annually, disclosing:

Company policy and procedures governing the lobbying of legislators and regulators, including that done on our company’s behalf by trade associations. The disclosure should include both direct and indirect lobbying and grassroots lobbying communications.

A listing of payments (both direct and indirect, including payments to trade associations) used for direct lobbying as well as grassroots lobbying communications, including the amount of the payment and the recipient.

Membership in and payments to any tax-exempt organization that writes and endorses model legislation.

Description of the decision making process and oversight by the management and Board for

direct and indirect lobbying contribution or expenditure; and

payment for grassroots lobbying expenditure.

For purposes of this proposal, a “grassroots lobbying communication” is a communication directed to the general public that (a) refers to specific legislation, (b) reflects a view on the legislation and (c) encourages the recipient of the communication to take action with respect to the legislation.

Both “direct and indirect lobbying” and “grassroots lobbying communications” include efforts at the local, state and federal levels.

The report shall be presented to the Audit Committee of the Board or other relevant oversight committees of the Board and posted on the company’s website.

Supporting Statement

As shareholders, we encourage transparency and accountability in the use of staff time and corporate funds to influence legislation and regulation both directly and indirectly. We believe such disclosure is in shareholders’ best interests. Absent a system of accountability, company assets could be used for policy objectives contrary to Verizon’s long-term interests.

Verizon spent approximately $29.87 million in 2009 and 2010 on direct federal lobbying activities, according to disclosure reports (U.S. Senate Office of Public Records). In 2010, according to required disclosure reports in nine states, Verizon also spent at least $4,065,249 in lobbying expenditures. These figures may not include grassroots lobbying to directly influence legislation by mobilizing public support or opposition and do not include lobbying expenditures to influence legislation or regulation in states that do not require disclosure.

Verizon engages in advocacy at the federal and state levels in order to promote the interests of the Company and its shareholders. The Company’s lobbying activities are already subject to an extensive framework of laws, public disclosure, and internal oversight. The additional disclosures required by the proposal would provide little or no value to shareholders while imposing significant administrative burdens on the Company.

Verizon already complies fully with all laws governing its lobbying activities, which require it to make extensive public disclosures about those activities. At the federal level, Verizon files public quarterly reports disclosing its lobbying expenditures and detailing its lobbying activities, the entities it lobbied, and the subject matters upon which it lobbied. Any lobbying firms hired by Verizon file similar reports. In addition, Verizon files public semiannual reports disclosing certain political contributions and honorary payments made by the Company or its federal political action committee. Each of Verizon’s in-house and external lobbyists file similar reports disclosing personal contributions and payments. Finally, Verizon belongs to a number of trade associations which are registered under the Lobbying Disclosure Act, and which file their own lobbying reports. These reports disclose the trade association’s own lobbying activities, and to the extent the trade associations have members who contribute more than $5,000 per quarter to the association and who actively participate in the planning, supervision, or control of the association’s lobbying activities, those members are identified on the association’s lobbying reports. Verizon also files extensive lobbying disclosure reports as required by state law.

Verizon’s lobbying activities are also subject to robust internal controls, including oversight by the Corporate Governance and Policy Committee of the Board of Directors. The Code of Conduct requires that all lobbying activities on behalf of the Company be authorized by the Public Affairs, Policy & Communications or Legal Departments. In addition, corporate policy and training materials provide guidance to employees regarding legal requirements in connection with lobbying activities.

The Board of Directors recommends that you vote AGAINST this proposal.

* This is an interactive electronic version of Verizon’s 2011 Annual Report to Shareowners, and it is intended to be complete and accurate.
The contents of this version are qualified in their entirety by reference to the printed version. A reproduction of the printed version is
available in PDF format on this website.